New Delhi, 19 December (Udaipur Kiran) – The Indian cricket team for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and the upcoming T20 international series against New Zealand in January will be announced on Saturday. The announcement will take place at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, where Captain Suryakumar Yadav and Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar will hold a press conference.

India has been placed in Group A for the T20 World Cup 2026 alongside Namibia, the Netherlands, Pakistan, and the United States. The team will begin its campaign on 7 February in Mumbai against the USA.

Star opener Abhishek Sharma is expected to secure his place in the squad following an impressive year in T20 cricket. Across franchise and international matches this year, he has scored 825 runs in 20 games, maintaining an average of 43.42 and a strike rate above 195. His record includes one century and five half-centuries, with a highest score of 135 runs.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill remain trusted leaders despite concerns over their current form. Yadav has scored 213 runs in 18 innings from 20 matches this year, averaging 14.20 with a strike rate of around 125, and has not registered a half-century. Shubman Gill could miss the series due to a foot injury sustained against South Africa. Since his return, he has scored 291 runs in 15 innings but has yet to hit a fifty.

Tilak Varma is also a strong contender for the team, having proven his ability in high-pressure matches like the Asia Cup final. He has scored 494 runs in T20 internationals this year, with an average of 44.90. Although his strike rate has been debated, his value in crucial games is unquestioned.

For the wicketkeeping role, options include Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma. The final decision will depend on team balance and current form. Ishan Kishan is also in the running after a notable domestic season, playing a key role in Jharkhand’s maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title. Kishan scored 517 runs in 10 innings at an average of 57.44 and a strike rate above 195, including two centuries and two fifties.

In the all-rounder department, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar could provide the team with balance and depth. The spin attack may be led by Kuldeep Yadav, who has been in excellent form this year, supported by Axar and Sundar in complementary roles.

Jasprit Bumrah is likely to captain the pace bowling unit again, with Arshdeep Singh and young Harshit Rana as possible options. It will also be interesting to see if popular players like Rinku Singh and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who have been out of the T20 team recently, find a place in the selectors’ plans.

The five-match T20 international series against New Zealand will commence on 21 January. Prior to that, the two teams will face off in a three-match ODI series, featuring experienced players such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. This ODI series will bring together the finalists of the 2025 Champions Trophy, India and New Zealand.